Bill O'Donnell
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Bill O'Donnell is a harness racer born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada, on May 4, 1948 to parents both heavily involved in the local racing circuit. After graduating from high school, O'Donnell became second trainer for Jim Doherty, and in 1979 moved on to Saratoga, New York, where he set the all-time record for most wins (279) at a single track in a single season. Later he went to the Meadowlands in New Jersey on the Grand Circuit.
O'Donnell was given the nickname "Magic" for being able to drive a horse seemingly past its limitations, and was named Harness Tracks of America's Driver of the Year in 1984, a year when he set a yearly earnings record of over $9 million. He became harness racing's first driver to eclipse $10 million in earnings in a single year (1985) and in a race in 1984 with Nihilator was the first to post a sub-1:50 race mile. He was named to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1986.